Index tab



F. A. PETTIS May 29, 1934.

INDEX TAB Filed NOV. '30. 1931 2 12 14 16 INVENTOR I 11 Fred/Z. Pefizs,

I BY

*W ATTORNEYE Patented May 29, 1934 INDEX TAB Fred A. Pettis, Buffalo, N.Y., assignor to Rem ington litand lne Buifalo, N. Y.

Applieantion November 30, 1931, Serial No. 578,099

3 Claims.

This invention relates to index tabs and particularly to that class oftabs adapted to be applied to card index leaves or book leaves, notoriginally so equipped.

The present invention comprehends an index tab having a substantiallyU-shaped outer or index strip and an attaching member of similar shapehaving a fold portion inserted between and secured to the edges of theindex strip, the

space within the interior of the index strip providing a pocket forreceiving an index slip, or like element, containing index indicia. Theinnor surface of the U--shaped attaching member is coated with adhesivematerial adapted to secure the tab to a paper sheet or other article tobe indexed.

According to the present invention the at taching member and index stripare formed of flexible transparent material, for instance, celluloid,cellophane, or the like, in order that sulting in better adherence tothe article to be indexed, and also permits observation of index indiciaupon an index slip placed in the tab. lhe indicia bearing index slippreferably comprises a folded strip having diverging leg portions en-","3 0 gaging the sides ofthe index strip adjacent its attachment to theattaching members. The invention provides a shield strip extendinglongiz'tudinally on the inner side of the fold portion :of the indexstrip providing an engaging memher for the upper edge of the indiciabearing index slip and providing a cover for the upper edge of the indexstrip to conceal the outer edge from view.

The index tabs may be formed in strips of 4- indefinite length and maybe cut up into smaller sections by the user, to accord with hisparticular needs, and may then be applied by him to the edges of theleaves of books, index cards, or like material which is to be indexed.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 shows a guide card and the improved index tabthereon in perspective.

Fig. 2 shows the composite tab structure in strip form in perspectivewith one end portion of the index strip detached and turned back to showthe attached shield.

Fig. 3 is a cross section substantially along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 1,showing the index tab applied to a guide card, with an index slipinsorted in the pocket.

As shown in Fig. l, the index tab generally indicated at 10, may beapplied to an edge portion of an articleto be indexed, such as the leafor guide card 11. An attaching member 12 includes substantially parallelsides 13 and 14 that are integrally vjoined by an intermediate foldportion 15. The attaching member is formed of flexible transparentmaterial, for instance, celluloid, cellophane or the like, in order thatindicia may be visible therethrough and adhesive 16 applied to the innersurfaces of the index strip, is likewise transparent, it being of a typeadapted to secure the strip 12 to paper or other articles to be indexed,either in its applied condition or upon moistening.

The index strip 1'7 is of substantially the same form as the attachingmember 12, having side portions 18 and 19, respectively, which areintegrally joined by a fold portion 20. Marginal edge portions 21 and 22of the respective sides 13 and 19 of the index strip are joined to thesides of the attaching member 12 adjacent the fold portion 15 of thelatter, the edge portions being provided with a transparent adhesivewhereby the index strip may be attached to the attaching strip member orto material to be indexed. A space or pocket is thus provided betweenthe fold portions 15 and 20 of the attaching and index strips andbetween the walls 18 and 19 of the index strip, for the insertion of anindex slip 23 which may comprise a strip of paper folded longitudinallyto provide diverging legs 24 and 25 for frictionally engaging the walls18 and 19 of the index strip to retain the strip against disformed oftransparent material, for instance,

transparent celluloid, or strip material formed from cellulose ester, orthe like transparent substance.

A shield strip 27 is placed longitudinally of the inner side of the foldportion 20 of the index strip having edges 28 substantially parallel tothe edges or the index strip 17. This disposition of the shield stripforms a frame member limiting and defining the upper limit of visibilityof index information carried upon the index slip 23.

The shield strip 27 provides an engaging surface for contact with theupper edge 29 of the index slip, which, together with the contact of theedge portions of the diverging legs 24 and 25, irictionally retains theindex slip within the pocket between the fold 15 of the attaching memberand the sides 18 and 19 of the index strip.

The provision of the strip permits the production of a tab of indefinitelength which may be cut in any desirable width and applied to a card orleaf or the like as the user may wish, and a strip which is adapted toretain an index slip therein against inadvertent displacement. Theshield may be colored in a variety of ways, if desired, for enhancingthe appearance of the tab as well as facilitating use of the tab inindexing.

I claim:

1. An index tab comprising an elongated strip of transparent sheetmaterial formed to provide a pair of spaced substantially parallel sidesections and a connecting fold section, means on the free marginalportions of said side sections for securing said tab to the margin of asheet, said means cooperating with said side sections to define one sideof an open ended label receiving pocket therebetween, and a shield stripmounted on the inner side of said fold section, extending longitudinallyof said tab, having the edges thereof terminating in spaced parallelrelation to said means and cooperating with said means to define thatportion of said side sections through which a label is displayed, saidshield strip and said means cooperating with the opposite edge portionsof a label in said pocket for normally retaining said label therein.

2. An index tab comprising an elongated strip of transparent sheetmaterial formed to provide a pair of spaced substantially parallel sidesections and a connecting fold section, an attaching member formed witha pair of spaced substantially parallel side sections and a connectingfold portion inserted within the marginal edge portions of said strip, atransparent adhesive between and connecting said portions, a shieldstrip mounted on the inner side of said fold section extendinglongitudinally of said tab having the edges thereof terminating inspaced parallel relation to said attaching member and cooperating withsaid attaching member to define that portion of said side sectionsthrough which a label is displayed, said shield strip and said attachingmember cooperating with the opposite edge portions of a label placedbetween the edge of said strip for normally retaining the label thereinand a transparent adhesive upon the inner side of the side sections ofsaid attaching member.

3. An index tab comprising an elongated strip of transparent sheetmaterial formed to provide a pair of spaced substantially parallel sidesections and a connecting fold section, means on the free marginalportions of said side sections for securing said tab to the margin of asheet, said means cooperating with said side sections to define an openended label receiving pocket therebetween, and a shield strip extendinglongitudinally of said tab mounted in said pocket, engaging in saidconnecting fold section having at least one of its edges terminating inspaced parallel relation to said means and cooperating with said meansto define the label displaying region of the respective transparent sidesection, said shield strip providing means cooperating with the edgeportion of a label inside the pocket for normally retaining said labeltherein.

FRED A. PETTIS.

